Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and Our Sacred Homestead: A Connection Rooted in Faith

+JMJ

Dear family,

In the heartland of what was once Mohawk territory, where the soil seems to hold centuries of sacred stories, a remarkable young woman once walked—a woman whose life would leave an indelible mark on the Church and on the very land we now call our farm and home.

In July, we pause to honor and reflect on the life of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the “Lily of the Mohawks.” Her journey is one of courage, grace, and unwavering devotion to God—an extraordinary soul who chose the path of holiness despite great suffering and loss.

It was during the 17th century that Father Jacques Bruyas, a devoted Jesuit priest, ventured into the dense and untamed wilderness alongside two companions. Their mission was to reach and serve the Indigenous peoples—particularly the Mohawk and Oneida—bringing with them the light of the Gospel and a heart of compassion.

Among the Mohawks, they encountered a young woman whose quiet strength and deep spiritual hunger left them awestruck. Her name was Kateri.

Kateri, orphaned at a young age and left nearly blind and scarred from smallpox, did not allow her pain to harden her heart. Instead, it deepened her love for Christ. Father Bruyas quickly recognized the sanctity in her soul and saw in her a spiritual light for her people—a light that continues to shine centuries later.

Not long after meeting Kateri, Father Bruyas journeyed onward, eventually establishing a mission church right on the land we now farm and live upon. Yes—our very own property holds this sacred history. That humble mission became a spiritual refuge for the Oneida people, a place of prayer, community, and conversion—where hearts turned toward heaven amidst the wild beauty of nature.

What’s even more profound is that Saint Kateri Tekakwitha herself is believed to have spent time on this land. Accompanied by an Oneida companion, she traveled the region on her spiritual pilgrimage—and many historians believe she sought solace and prayer right here, in the peaceful surroundings of this blessed place.

As I walk the fields and tend to the earth, I often think of her—how her gentle steps may have touched the same soil, how her whispered prayers may have risen from this very ground. There’s a holiness here, a quiet presence that lingers... and I believe it is her.

Today, as we honor her feast day, we also honor the spiritual connection between her journey and our mission here. Saint Kateri is not just a figure of the past—she is a living inspiration for all who seek to live simply, love deeply, and walk humbly with God.

She is the patron saint of ecology and the Indigenous peoples, and her legacy calls us to care for the earth, to respect people-especially the most vulnerable, and to cherish the quiet ways God speaks to us—through nature, through suffering, through silence.

May we, like Saint Kateri, draw strength from our trials, deepen our faith, and find peace in the sacredness of the land entrusted to us. May her presence continue to guide us as we strive to serve others, especially through our Pediatric Mission and family work, with hearts full of love and a spirit of self-giving.